LSAW will continue to add information to this page.. If you have a resource you would like to share, please email link to info@LSAW.org

MESSAGE FROM LSAW

In response to COVID-19 outbreak, as a proactive measure NSPS has been actively petitioning the government at the federal, state, and local levels requesting that Land Surveyors be exempt from any “stay at home” order that may be issued. Last week Governor Inslee issued an Executive Order. The order outlines a list of essential workforces that are exempt which includes critical infrastructure workers.

In these uncertain times we understand how frustrating it can be to not have a clear-cut determination on whether a land surveyor is defined as an essential. LSAW is seeking clarification and has completed paperwork for clarification/inclusion as an esstential business. In the meantime, if after reviewing the list, you determine you are included in the exempt list, do your best to protect the health and safety of the public and your employees by setting up social distancing protocols. For example, if you decide to send a field crew out, make sure everyone is in a separate vehicle and keeps a distance of at least 6 feet.

The purpose of the Governor’s Executive Order is to protect Washingtonians. LSAW encourages everyone to treat this seriously, use good judgement, and continue to follow government regulations and CDC guidelines.

LSAW has compiled helfpul resources below. If you have a resource you would like to share, please email link to info@LSAW.org

RESPONSE FROM STATE REGARDING "ESSENTIAL"

Thank you for your inquiry. Land surveying as an industry encompasses a wide range of services, some of which are essential and some of which are not. To the extent that a surveying job supports an industry or activity that is referenced in the "Essential Critical Infrastructure" list or any subsequent Governor-issued guidance, the project is permitted to continue. Consequently, most surveying related to residential or non-essential construction must temporarily pause. Kindly consult the appendix to Proclamation 20-25 and Governor Inslee’s memo on construction issued March 25, 2020, the documents can be found here.

For surveying work that is essential, all social distancing and sanitation measures referenced in the proclamation must be followed. For surveying work that is not, workers may still perform the minimum basic operations such as ensuring security and processing payroll. A full list of minimum basic operations is found in section (3)(d) of Proclamation 20-25.

Please know that Governor Inslee takes these decisions very seriously. Nonetheless, the science tells that the best way to stop the spread of COVID-19 is to limit interaction as much as possible.

*Please do not respond to this email because the account is not monitored. The account is used by the Business Response Team with the Washington State Emergency Operations Center only to provide responses to inquiries regarding the intake form you completed. Please visit coronavirus.wa.gov for ongoing guidance.*

Proclamation 20-25 does not require anyone to carry documentation or certification proving they are in compliance. Similarly, no state or local agency will be providing special certification that an activity is essential.

Disclaimer: This response is intended only to provide guidance on Proclamation 20-25 and does not grant any other license, certification, or privilege.